What is Accounts Payable (A/P)?

A general contractor (GC), also commonly referred to as a prime contractor, is the main contractor responsible for managing an entire construction project. They are in direct contact with the build’s owner/developer and hold primary responsibility for the construction, execution, quality, and completion of the project under the agreed terms and schedules. As such, the GC addresses concerns and resolves issues related to the project, contributing to the effective execution and timely delivery. The GC also manages the procurement of materials, labor, and equipment, ensuring compliance with building codes and regulations.

A critical part of the GC’s job is hiring and managing trade contractors, also known as subcontractors, who specialize in specific construction trades like electrical, plumbing, framing, etc. The GC essentially acts as a hub, contracting out portions of the work to skilled trade contractors while retaining overall control of the project operations.

GCs have a vested interest in working with subcontractors who not only are highly skilled in their respective trades but also have efficient, well-defined operational and financial workflows to ensure reliability and consistency in their performance. Streamlined billing processes are crucial in this regard. When subcontractors can quickly and accurately generate pay applications—complete with the necessary compliance documentation and lien waivers—it allows the GC to bill the project’s owner promptly and get paid faster. Delays in subcontractor billing can significantly impede the GC’s ability to get paid in time, thereby causing delays in payments to other contractors, too. 

This is where a solution like Siteline can ultimately benefit GCs by helping their subcontractors streamline billing processes. Siteline accelerates subcontractor billing by automatically generating pay apps per GC specifications, tracking compliance requirements, managing change orders and lien waivers, and providing payment visibility. When subcontractors use Siteline to automate billing, GCs receive accurate, compliant pay applications faster, allowing them to bill project owners promptly and get paid quicker as a result.

See how Siteline can accelerate your construction billing cycle and get you paid faster by scheduling a demo today.

A final lien waiver (or final release of lien) is a legal document signed by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier confirming they’ve received full payment for a finished job—including any retainage—and are giving up their right to file a mechanics lien against the property.

Signed during project closeout, a final lien waiver gives the general contractor, owner, and lender peace of mind that all bills are paid and no future claims will pop up. These waivers can be:

• conditional (only effective once the final payment actually clears the bank) or
• unconditional (effective immediately upon signing).

How Siteline Helps:
Tracking down final waivers from lower-tier suppliers while trying to collect your final payout from the GC creates major closeout bottlenecks. Siteline automates the creation, collection, and tracking of progress and final lien waivers in one place—helping trade contractors clear project titles faster, satisfy GC requirements, and unlock retainage without the headache.

A Performance Bond is a type of surety bond issued by an insurance company or a bank to guarantee satisfactory completion of a project by a contractor. In the construction industry, a Performance Bond is often required to protect the client if the contractor fails to complete the contract or does not meet the agreed standards or time frame in performing the project. It is essentially a safeguard tool that ensures the project owner will not incur financial loss due to the contractor's inability to fulfill the contract. This bond provides assurance that the contractor has the necessary resources and competencies to execute the project according to the stipulated terms.